Permanent magnet roll



March 4, 1952 A. c. CLOUSE PERMANENT MAGNET ROLL Filed June 9, 1949 Y E "I.MFMM

M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 PERMANENT MAGNET vROLL Augustus C. Clouse, Butler, Pa., assignor to Fretz- Moon Tube Company, Inc., Butler, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 9, 1949, Serial No. 98,024

This invention relates to magnetic rolls of the type used in the handling or conveying of metal products such as pipes, rods, sheet, etc.

One use of magnetic rolls has been in the conveying of pipe from a, galvanizing tank through or up to certain blower mechanisms which operate to remove excess spelter adhering to its outer and inner surfaces, one of the advantages thus obtained resulting from the fact that the pipe can be suspended from the rolls so that the excess spelter drops free of the rolls and does not injure them. However, so far as I am aware, the magnetic fields of such rolls have been created electrically, and, consequently, the rolls are relatively expensive due to the numerous windings necessary to give sufficient field strength and also due to operating expenses. Such operating expenses not only include the electric power necessary to produce a magnetic field, but also the periodical maintenance of the windings, as well as the other parts of the rolls. Of course, when maintenance or repair is required, operations must be halted temporarily, so that it is quite desirable to provide rolls which are capable of long periods of uninterrupted use.

It is therefore among the objects of this invention to provide a magnetic roll which is unusually economical both in construction and use, and which is capable of being used for an unusually long period of time without interruptions for maintenance and repairs.

A related and more specific object is to provide a magnetic roll, the magnetic field of which is produced by a permanent magnet mounted in such a manner that the full energy of the magnet is concentrated in a desired portion of the roll to produce a strong magnetic attraction.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pipe galvanizing tank and a conveying system for carrying the pipe away from the tank, this system incorporating the magnetic rolls of the invention; and Fig. 2 a section along 1ines II-II of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. l, a length of pipe I is shown as it is being carried away from a galvanizing tank 2, the motive power for conveying the pipe being supplied by a pair of magnetic rolls 3 from which the pipe is suspended. Customarily, as the pipe emerges from the galvanizing tank, it is passed through a circular blower 4 which is provided with openings through which air under pressure is blown against the pipe to remove excess spelter from its exterior surface, and, following this, the pipe is delivered to a, series of 4 Claims. (01.19841) idle rolls 6 which support it in its movement up to a second blowing unit 1 arranged to project compressed air or superheated steam into the interior of the pipe and remove excess spelter therefrom. The use of magnetic rolls 3 in connection with the pipe galvanizing operation is particularly advantageous not only because excess spelter then can drop free of the rolls, but also because such rolls are capable of accurately directing the pipe along the desired path through the center of blower 4 and up to blower I. However, to avoidpossible misunderstanding, it should be borne in mind that other advantageous uses of the rolls also are contemplated.

The invention is concerned primarily with the particular construction of magnetic rolls 3, these being carried on driven shafts 8 mounted in suitable bearings provided by brackets 9 of roll platform Ill. The roll construction is shown in Fig. 2, where it may be seen that each roll includes a casing, generally indicated by numeral II, this casing having a concave, pipe-receiving outer surface and being formed of a pair of spaced-apart and opposed cup-shaped members 12 and I3, each of these members being keyed to roll shaft 8 for rotation with it; each, also, having its central portion thickened so as to provide interior flanges l4 and I5. Fitted within the casing in an opposed position are a pair of ring-shaped members l6 and I! provided, respectively, with radial flanges ISand I9 projecting outwardly from their outer circumferential edges to the concave surface of the casing. Further, rings l6 and H are spaced apart a slight distance, and, fitted within this space, is a non-magnetic ring 2! which completelyfills the void between the ring flanges.

The magnetic force of the roll is supplied by a permanent magnet 22 which, as seen, is ringshaped and is fitted between the outer circumferential portions of rings [6 and I? on one of its sides and flanges l4 and 15 of the casing members on its other side, the magnet being magnetized in such a manner that its opposite vertical faces, as viewed in Fig. 2. are of opposite polarity, or, in other words, the magnetization is such that the lines of force run axially of the shaft from one plane vertical face to the other. To complete the assembly, shaft 8 is threaded to receive nut 23 which cooperates with another nut 24 to press the casing members together and hold all of the elements of the roll in operative position.

As previously mentioned, the function of the roll is to magnetically attract and convey, or otherwise handle, metallic objects, and, for this purpose, the several elements described are formed either of a magnetic material which creates the necessary magnetic field, or of non-magnetic material which insulates the magnet and, in effect, deflects the magnetic lines of forces toward desired points so as to concentrate the full energy at those points and produce there a strong magnetic attraction. Thus, ring members I6 and H which surround magnet 22 are formed, preferably, of soft steel so as to carry the magnetic forces from the magnet to the tips of the radial extending flanges l8 and IQ of the rings, these tips thus forming unlike magnetic poles much in the same manner as the tips of a horseshoe magnet. Except for the magnet itself, the remaining roll elements are formed of non-magnetic material, such as brass, and their arrangement assures a concentration of the magnetic forces in these unlike poles. Thus, ring spacer member 2| being nonmagnetic interrupts the lines of force running from ring I6 to ring 11, or vice versa, and deflects these lines outwardly through spaces at the central portion of the concave circumferential surfaces of the roll, thereby creating a strong field of magnetic attraction at this central portion. Further, brass casing members [2 and I3 entirely cover the magnetic rings except for the tips, or pole portions, of their flanges I8 and I9 and again it is to be noted that these poles are positioned centrally of the concave surface of the casing so that pipe or other articles conveyed are held firmly on the center of the roll, centering, of course, being advantageous in that the roll then is capable of accurately directing the pipe along a desired course. As' to magnet 22, this may be formed of a number of different materials capable of being permanently magnetized, although it has been found particularly advantageous to employ a sintered alloy known as Alnico II, since, for one reason, the ring-shape of the magnet can be formed economically by the sintering process and, for another, this particular alloy possesses to a high degree the desired magnetic properties.

The advantages inherent in the magnetic rolls of the invention now should be clearly discernible.

Foremost among these is that they are much more economical than prior magnetic rolls, not only due to simplicity of construction, but also to the considerable savings made possible by their use. In this regard, there are no expensive windings which must be initially made and then maintained at periodical intervals, and, also, no constant input of electrical energy to maintain their magnetic field. Further, permanent magnet rolls of this type have an almost unlimited useful life since passage of time results in very minor losses of magnetic attraction. In fact, their efficiency will last until the roll is encompassed by some stray magnetic field of at least the same magnitude as that used to magnetize it, and the possibility of such occurring within the vicinity of the roll is extremely unlikely.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A magnetic roll comprising a roll shaft, a roll casing mounted on said shaft and formed of non-magnetic material, said casing being radially divided into spaced opposed members, a pair of spaced opposed magnetic 'rings each fitted into one of said members and each having a flange projecting radially outwardly from its inner circumferential edge to said casing surface, a nonmagnetic spacer member carried between said flanges of said pair of rings, and a core of permanently magnetized material closely held within said rings, the magnetic lines of force of said core running axially of the shaft from one ring to the other, the tips of said magnetic ring flanges constituting the only magnetically unshielded portions of the rings whereby unlike magnetic poles are formed at predetermined positions on the circumference of said roll for securely holding ferrous material thereto.

2. A magnetic roll comprising a roll shaft, a roll casing mounted on said shaft and formed of non-magnetic material, said casing having a concave circumferential surface and being radially divided into spaced opposed halves, a pair of spaced opposed magnetic rings each fitted into one of said halves and each having a continuous flange projecting radially outwardly from its inner circumferential edge to said casing surface, a non-magnetic spacer member carried between said flanges of said pair of rings, and a core of permanently magnetized material closely held within said rings, the magnetic lines of force of said core extending axially of the shaft from one ring to the other, the tips of said magnetic ring flanges constituting the only magnetically unshielded portions of the rings whereby unlike magnetic poles are formed at central positions on the concave circumferential surface of the roll for securely holding ferrous material thereto.

3. A magnetic roll comprising a roll shaft, 3 roll casing mounted on said shaft and formed of non-magnetic material, said casing having a concave circumferential surface and being radially divided into spaced opposed halves each having a. thickened central portion forming an interior circular flange, a pair of spaced opposed magnetic rings each fitted into one of said halves and each having a continuous flange projecting radially outwardly from its inner circumferential edge to said casing surface, a non-magnetic spacer member carried between said flanges of said pair of rings, and a ring-shaped core of a, permanently magnetized material closely fitted into said rings the magnetic lines of force of said core extending axially of the shaft from one ring to the other, the tips of said magnetic ring flanges constituting the only magnetically unshielded portions of the rings whereby unlike magnetic poles are formed at central positions on the concave circumferential surface of the roll for securely holding ferrous material thereto.

4. A magnetic roll comprising a roll shaft, a roll casing mounted on said shaft and formed of nonmagnetic material, said casing having a concave circumferential surface and being radially divided into spaced opposed halves, a pair of spaced opposed magnetic rings each fitted into one of said halves and each having a continuous flange projecting radially outwardly from its inner circumferential edge to said casing surface, a non-magnetic spacer member carried between said flanges of said pair of rings, a core of permanently magnetized material closely held within said rings, the magnetic lines of force of said core extending axially of the shaft from one ring to the other, the tips of said magnetic ring flanges constituting the only magnetically unshielded portions of the rings whereby unlike magnetic poles are formed at central positions on the concave circumferen- 5 tial surface of the roll for securely holding ferrous material thereto, and releasable means mounted on said shaft clamping said casing halves together, said means being formed of a nonmagnetic material.

AUGUSTUS C. CLOUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,659,848 Wilson Feb. 21, 1928 1,906,400 Moon May 2, 1933 5 1,937,991 Stearns Dec. 5, 1933 OTHER REFERENCES Dings Catalogue No. C-100'7A, published by Dings Magnetic Separator Co., 4740 W. McGeogh 10 Ave., Milwaukee 14, Wis., in August 1948. 

